Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources

Jim Newton, P.E., DEE

Course Outline

This eight-hour course provides valuable information for those individuals who are looking for renewable or alternative energy sources for their operations.  It was designed by an instructor who has developed and implemented numerous similar training courses. 

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Understand the basics facts of energy;
• Understand how fossil fuels are used;
• Understand the history of energy use;
• Understand the problems with the current system;
• Understand how to balance fossil fuels with alternative sources;
• Understand what energy is;
• Understand how to bridge the gap between policy and pollution;
• Understand basic energy metrics;
• Understand the fundamental laws governing energy consumption;
• Understand electrical energy;
• Understand the real cost of power;
• Understand the basic fuels from the fossil fuel era and beyond;
• Understand basic energy consumption trends;
• Understand current energy availability and cost;
• Understand basic combustion processes;
• Understand common combustion sources;
• Understand how to process fuels into useable power;
• Understand the efficiency and conservation concepts;
• Understand strategies for reducing energy consumption;
• Understand the efficiency and conservation changes one can make;
• Understand global warming concepts;
• Understand other pollution problems associated with energy;
• Understand the basics of nuclear energy;
• Understand fission principles;
• Understand hydrogen fusion principles;
• Understand how to turn sunlight into energy;
• Understand the economics of solar power;
• Understand the future of photvoltaics;
• Understand the basics of hydropower;
• Understand small scale hydropower generation;
• Understand the growing market for wind energy;
• Understand wind farms;
• Understand small scale wind power concepts;
• Understand geothermal energy basics;
• Understand creating electrical power using geothermal;
• Understand geothermal heat pumps;
• Understand biomass basics;
• Understand small scale biomass systems;
• Understand the basics of using wood as a renewable source;
• Understand basic hydrogen fuel cells;
• Understand basic vehicle power history;
• Understand flex fuel concepts;
• Understand electric vehicle concepts;
• Understand battery issues;
• Understand how hybrid vehicles work;
• Understand vehicle fuel cell fundamentals;
• Understand vehicle fuel cell challenges;
• Understand exotic propulsion systems; and
• Understand the ten myths about energy.

Intended Audience

The intended audience for this course is any professional who is interested in alternative or renewable energy sources.

Benefit to Attendees

Attendees of this course will under stand the basic concepts of alternative and renewable energy sources.

Course Introduction

The water and wastewater industry relies heavily on electricity and other fossil fuels to provide the energy necessary to treat drinking water and wastewater.  Fossil fuels are limited in the available quantities and non-renewable and at some time will be depleted.  This course will look at the issue of fossil fuels and provide an understanding of the alternative, renewable energy sources that are available for use at water and wastewater facilities.   It will also include a discussion of key engineering and other factors needed to adopt some or all of these alternatives as energy sources.

Course Content

This webinar is based upon the following book:

Alternative Energy For Dummies by Rik DeGunther

Although it is not required, it is highly recommended for you to have a copy of this book. If you do not have a copy, you can purchase one from Amazon.com. It may also be available in your local library. You may also be able to find an electronic version from e-bookstores on the Internet (enter search phrase "Alternative Energy for Dummies PDF" in Google) or as a Kindle version from Amazon.

You may download the following webinar handout for your reference:

Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources (PDF, 6.5 MB)

Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Since this course is offered as a "live" course, you are required to attend the webinar at the scheduled time and date. Please check the Webinar Schedule under course description on our website for currently scheduled meeting date and time. We will send you an invitation to the webinar through email approximately 24 hours before the webinar (confirmation of the receipt of the invitation is required). The certificate of completion will not be issued unless you attend the webinar and pass a quiz. Thank you for your cooperation.

Course Summary

This course discusses basic alternative or renewable energy sources and concepts with basic design criteria.

Related Links

For additional information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

Amazon.com
Borders
Barnes and Nobles

Quiz

Before you attend the webinar, you need to print the quiz questions from your browser for your study during the webinar. At the end of the webinar, you need to complete the quiz and submit your answers to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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